Behind-the-book

7 Facts You Should Know About Ethel Rosenberg

One of the most commonly misunderstood figures in US history is Ethel Rosenberg, who is often described as a traitor or spy in the same... Read More

Libraries are the Source of Magic

Libraries Are the Source of Magic, by Maya MacGregor

When I was growing up, often in rural areas, getting to visit bookstores was always a special treat, but libraries were where I would thrive. Read More

Loujain Alhathloul, Loujain Dreams of Sunflowers

Sunflowers for Loujain: Using Picture Books to Tell the Stories of Human Rights Defenders

A guest post by Lina AlHathloul and Uma Mishra-Newbery As human rights activists and co-authors of Loujain Dreams of Sunflowers: A Story Inspired by Loujain AlHathloul, we have been asked... Read More

Why Garfield? by Gail Jarrow

“Why Garfield?” by Author Gail Jarrow

Why did I choose to write about James Garfield’s assassination?  Many people have asked me this question since the October 2021 publication... Read More

Becoming Abolitionists by Derecka Purnell

Behind the Book: Becoming Abolitionists

How did Becoming Abolitionists come to be? Astra House Editorial Director Alessandra Bastagli details how she and Derecka Purnell met and... Read More

Castaway Mountain, Saumya Roy

Go Behind the Scenes of Castaway Mountain with Saumya Roy

While Saumya Roy’s Castaway Mountain may read like a work of fiction, it’s the true story of Farzana Ali Shaikh, one of the best pickers in the Deonar... Read More

Author Gail Jarrow Reveals Why She Writes about Deadly Diseases

Author Gail Jarrow Reveals Why She Writes about Deadly Diseases

In this exclusive session with Gail Jarrow and Calkins Creek editor Carolyn Yoder, the pair discuss why learning history is so vital in relation to the present. Read More

I’LL BE STRONG FOR YOU

Q&A with I’ll Be Strong for You Author Nasim Marashi

Early this year, Astra House published I’ll Be Strong for You in English. Below, we chatted with Nasim Marashi about choosing... Read More

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